Zhongshan, Guangdong wedding customs

Wedding situation in Guangzhou

1. A big gift

After a big gift, it means that the two parties have settled on the marriage, and the groom’s family will send the betrothal gift to The woman’s family will no longer regret the marriage. Of course, there must have been full communication between the matchmakers before the big gift. Once both parents or both men and women agree to the marriage, the ceremony can be celebrated. The wedding ceremony is usually held three months before the wedding. The gifts a man wants to give will depend on his family's family background and generosity. Generally speaking, it is a roasted suckling pig, a pair of wedding cakes, a pair of roosters and hens, a pair of male and female geese, and then bring a big red envelope (a relatively large amount of red envelope), and then a pair of coconuts (meaning There are coconuts and seeds), a plate of red dates, half a plate of peanuts, and an orange tree.

Excessive gifts in today's era are much simplified. The man brings a letter from Italy, usually giving 3,000 to 10,000 yuan. The man also needs to increase the amount of cakes that the woman can give to relatives. Because before the wedding, the bride’s family will send a dozen red and white wedding cakes to relatives. Half of the wedding cakes are filled with candied winter melon and half with lotus paste. They are given to elders or close relatives.

Among the men's gifts, if the man is rich, he will give a house and a car, but this is still rare. Those from poor families are given one thousand eight hundred and eight thousand eight hundred eighty cents, which are all intended to have good intentions and mean a happy marriage for a hundred years. At the same time, they brought coconuts, a pair of chickens, and a pair of soju. The parents of both parties met this time and then determined the wedding date together.

2. Make the bed

When you get married, you need to have a new house and make a new bed. This is a must for the groom’s family. Bed-making time takes place the day before the wedding. The bed must be made by a lucky woman. What is a good fortune woman? It refers to a woman who has given birth to multiple children, especially sons. Not only does she raise her sons well, but she also has a successful career and a happy family. Of course, in today's era, most of the shops are done by Sister Dajin. (Sister Dayin refers to the important person who helps preside over the wedding.)

After laying out the new sheets and quilt, place lotus seeds, even numbers of peanuts and even numbers of red dates under the bed cover. This is used for couples to press the bed on their wedding day. Of course, we have to put down two coupons at the head and end of the bed, and put a bunch of coupons on a plate on the bed, so that on the wedding day, we can get new mortgage coupons for the dowry brothers and sisters.

3. Refresh

Refresh is also called refresh. Few modern people know this. Showering is also a shower. It takes place on the night before the wedding, and the bride and groom take it in their own homes. The process is: boil grapefruit leaves and lemongrass into hot water. After it cools down, the newlyweds use this water to wash their faces and body. Then put on new pajamas and new slippers and wait for the night. The meaning of "Chongxin" is to wash away the filth, exorcise evil spirits, and then start a new life.

However, modern people’s refreshment has become very simple. They just need to take grapefruit leaves and lemongrass and refresh themselves under the shower head.

4. Shangtou

The night before the wedding, both men and women comb their hair in front of the mirror at home, which is called Shangtou.

In the old days, the man’s hair would be combed by the oldest person in the family, such as his grandfather. In the new era, it can also be done by aunt, aunt or father. The woman's side is taken care of by Sister Dajin, which is still the case in the past.

The tools on top are: use a semicircular comb, tie a cypress leaf and a bunch of red rope. The cypress leaf represents the longevity of marriage. The tail of the comb is also tied with a profit, which contains some money. Sister Dayen sang some auspicious words while combing her hair:

One comb to the end; two combs to reach the eyebrows; three combs to fill the house with children! In the old days, there were ten combs in a woman's head, which were: four combs for good weather, five combs for gentleness, six combs for husband and wife to respect each other, seven to ten combs. However, in modern times, it is simplified to three combs.

After the hair is tied, the red rope and cypress leaves of the comb are tied to the hair of the bride and groom respectively until the end of the wedding on the second day.

After getting wet, I had to eat sugar water. My mother brought out sugar water boiled with lotus seeds, lilies, peanuts, red beans and eggs. Newcomers have to drink the sugar water.

5. Face-opening

Face-opening means that the bride has to pull out the hair on her face before putting on makeup for the wedding, which is called face-opening.

In the past, women wore less makeup, so before brides put on makeup, they all wanted to beautify their faces and look more beautiful. It was basically still like this during the Republic of China. But modern women wear more makeup and have less facial hair. They can apply makeup simply by opening their faces.

Marriage in Guangzhou can be divided into three stages according to time.

①Pre-wedding ceremony

Pre-wedding ceremony can be divided into six steps:

One day is acceptance. The groom's family invites a matchmaker to bring gifts to propose marriage to the bride's family.

The second is to ask about the name. After proposing a marriage, the men and women exchange their "birth dates". If the man and woman's "horoscopes" are suitable for marriage, the marriage can get down to business.

The third day is Naji. In fact, it is an engagement ceremony, and I want to invite you to drink wine on that day to congratulate you.

The fourth is to accept the levy. Commonly known as "exerting a betrothal gift" or "excessive gift", the gift given this time is thicker than the gift given when accepting the offer, and the ceremony is also more grand.

The fifth day is the invitation period. After the betrothal gift is given, the groom's family chooses the wedding date, consults the bride's family for their opinions, and both parties agree on the date of the wedding.

The sixth day is to welcome the bride. The last important step before the wedding. The groom's family sends a representative to the bride's family to welcome the bride; the bride's family receives some of the gifts from the groom's family (but not all) and gives gifts in return as a thank you.

②Main wedding

The etiquette on the day after the bride arrives at the groom’s house. The bride and groom both worship to heaven, earth, ancestors, parents and each other. Afterwards, the bride, accompanied by the groom, offers "heart hug" (i.e. daughter-in-law) tea to the groom's parents, elders, and congratulatory relatives and friends. After the person being offered tea has finished drinking the tea, he or she must seal a "profit" (i.e. red envelope) to the newlyweds. The groom's family then held a banquet to entertain relatives and friends. During the banquet, the bride and groom will toast each other at each table, and tea will be served before the banquet ends. Before entering the bridal chamber, the groom and the bride should drink lotus seed sugar water to each other to take the good meaning of "continuous birth of a precious son"; they should drink "lily tea" to each other to take the meaning of "a happy marriage for a hundred years" and "white hair equal to eyebrows"; To eat Heshunlan, choose its harmonious, smooth and sweet meaning.

③ Post-wedding ceremony

The newlyweds return to their parents' home on the third day after the wedding, which is called "returning to the home after three dynasties". This is the last ceremony of the marriage. When returning home, the husband's family prepares gifts, including roasted pig, chicken and gift cakes. The newlyweds must return to their husband's house before sunset on the same day; and they must follow the same route they took when they welcomed the bride, and cannot "walk two roads in three days."

New wedding customs

Since the 1980s, new wedding customs have emerged in Guangzhou, and the entire wedding process is videotaped.

Before the wedding, take wedding photos in a wedding photo studio. Usually, the groom and the bride will ask their unmarried friends to be the best men and best women (commonly known as "brothers" and "sisters") in advance. On the day of the wedding, the bride is accompanied by her "sisters" to a pre-arranged beauty center for hair and makeup; while the groom's "brothers" dress up the float: hang or paste flowers, ribbons, and colored balls on the car, and in front of the car. There are two dolls, a boy and a girl. When the auspicious time arrives, the groom leads all the "brothers" to the bride's home to pick her up. At this time, the bride's "sisters" will strictly guard the gates to prevent the groom from easily receiving the bride. They will also argue with the groom and his "brothers", asking for "profits" (commonly known as "sisters' money"), and get a Seal the "profit market" to open a door, and some will hide the bride's shoes until the groom "begs for mercy" or "admits defeat" before letting the bride go out. At this time, all the brothers and sisters gathered around the groom and the bride to go to the groom's house. Sometimes, even though the bride's home is very close to the groom's home, the float has to make a large circle and pass through Jixiang Road, Changshou Road, Wanfu Road, Baizi Road, etc. to get the "good impression". Afterwards, the bride is accompanied by the groom and returns to her natal home, commonly known as "returning to the home". During a wedding banquet, the bride and groom must toast each other; tea must be served at the end of the banquet, and the guests give each other "profit" as a gift. During the whole wedding process, some brides will change into 2 to 3 sets of clothes. They wear a Western-style white wedding dress when welcoming guests; a traditional red skirt and gown during the banquet; and a gorgeous cheongsam when seeing off guests after the banquet. The menu of the wedding banquet is also very particular. If it is a first marriage, there must be the dish of "roasted suckling pig"; there is also the red date and lotus seed soup, which means "having a baby early", and the sweet soup and sweet cake, which means the sweetness of the newlyweds. After the wedding banquet, the host family will also give "profits" to the guests in return.

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